I hear a lot about the 'War on Women.'  We see a lot of it in the news.  From women who are told that as 12-year olds, they're to blame for their rape to states such as Kansas and North Dakota passing more stringent abortion laws.

Here's the thing.  I'm pro-choice.  I will always be pro-choice.  That does not mean I'm 'pro dead baby' or 'pro death.'  It means that I respect and support that every woman (and man--takes two to tango) has the right to make her own choice.

It's not an easy choice for any woman to make.  No one grows up with the thought, 'Oh man, I can't wait until I get older and I can have an abortion!  Won't that be FUN?!'  Women have abortions every day for a wide variety of reasons.

Some do it because they were stupid and made a mistake.

Some do it because they are in an abusive relationship and can't stand the thought of bringing a child into that kind of environment.

Some women have children already, and can't afford any more.

Some women find themselves pregnant with a child that is wanted and they've discovered that there is something drastically wrong with the child.

It's not an easy choice for a woman to make.  The choice is made all the more difficult by people who treat her like shit because of her decision.

Can you imagine being pregnant and wanting that child desperately, and discovering that there is something wrong?  I have nothing but respect for the women who choose to carry pregnancies that they know will result in the death of their child.  I have just as much respect for the woman who chooses to terminate a pregnancy so that she can spare her child as much suffering as possible.

Not every abortion is the result of booze and promiscuity.

France has adopted a new policy on birth control and abortion.  Abortions up to 12 weeks are legal for anyone, and are completely paid for.  After 12 weeks, an abortion will only be performed with the consent of two physicians  and only in the case of danger to the mothers life or a severe and terminal birth defect.  Girls aged 15-18 have access to free and anonymous birth control.  The idea is that the latter will help with the former.

I like their idea on abortion.  Obviously, in this country, they will never be free.  That's ok.  But I like the rest of it.  In France, women have to wait a week before having an abortion performed, although the time limit can be lifted if a woman is nearing the 12-week mark.

As for birth control...if we made birth control readily available to anyone for free or very inexpensive, I think there would be a huge drop in abortions.  Make it so women can get birth control without jumping through hoops, without being humiliated, without feeling like society thinks they're whores or that they're only good for popping out babies.  Let them go to Planned Parenthood without having to wade through protesters who make them feel terrible.

Sex is fun.  Sex should be fun.  We have the technology, we have the ability to prevent unwanted pregnancies.  And yes, it's each persons responsibility to prevent those unwanted pregnancies.  We should not be made to feel guilty for taking those precautions.  And if they fail?  We should not be made to feel guilty for making the choice to not bring a life into this world.

I read an article the other day about how abortion and gay marriage used to be on similar standing.  These days, gay marriage is becoming more and more acceptable (YAY!) while abortion is still a totally taboo topic.  It comes down to the fact that women are afraid to admit when they've had an abortion.  I think they're even afraid to admit that they've ever even considered it.  It doesn't come up in conversation, women don't 'come out of the closet' and admit to having had an abortion.

It's estimated that 22% of pregnancies end in abortion.  1.21 million in 2008.  There's a pretty damn good chance that we all know at least one woman who has had an abortion.

I know there are people out there who say that abortion should be completely outlawed.  They say that these unwanted children should be given up for adoption, or that the parents should just suck it up.  That women need to be more careful, and that if they really don't want to get pregnant--they just shouldn't have sex.

Although I've never tried it, my understanding is that adopting a child in the US is incredibly difficult.  Even though there are many people who would love to adopt, there are always children who are never able to find families.  So that is just putting more children in the foster system.

So, yeah.  I'm pro-choice.  It's not a choice that I could make, but I can completely understand why that choice would be made.  And if we want to see the abortion rate drop?  Then guilting women and badgering them and making their lives a living hell is not the way to do it.